Two neurologists eating lunch between ward rounds ask each other: who is the greatest lover? The question leads Dr. Shubhankar Mishra to the Shiva Mahapurana, the Linga Purana, and the Bhagavatam — and to the story of Shiva and Dakshayani, compiled from authentic scriptural sources rather than popular retellings or television adaptations.
The book unfolds across fifty chapters: the world's making, Shiva's deep samadhi, the birth of Adishakti, the celestial wedding, the paradise at Kailasha, and the devastating rupture at Daksha's yajna that ends with Sati's death and Shiva's grief. The framing is deliberately scientific — the same neurohormones that govern attraction and attachment in clinical research, Mishra argues, illuminate why Shiva's love for Sati registers as the most complete in all literature. The narrative is drawn from primary texts throughout, giving it an authenticity that popular mythology rarely attempts.
For readers who want the Puranic story told with scholarly fidelity and examined with contemporary curiosity, this is a distinctive approach.
-:ABOUT THE BOOK:- "...'What is happening to me?' The supreme god wondered in deep samādhi. All contradictory emotions and feelings were intertwined in his mind. As the lord of time, it was easy for him to simultaneously witness the past, present, and future. But this was different. He felt himself being drawn into a whirlpool of time. At that moment, he saw a beautiful face smiling at him. His heart skipped a beat. 'Shakti,' he exclaimed, overcome. Tears rolled down his cheeks like a broken dam...." Two inquisitive neurologists explore the neurosciences of divine love, embarking on a journey to uncover the most incredible love story and the most intriguing lover. This pursuit culminates in a mesmerising tale of Śhiva-the supreme god of Hinduism. The narrative unfolds like a sacred pilgrimage through the fabric of time, beginning from the creation of the world and tracing back to the story of Dakshayanī (Mother Sati). Unlike contemporary books and television shows, this account is compiled from authentic sources, including the Shiva Mahapurana, Linga Puran, and Bhagavatam. "This book has a beautiful message for humanity-to explore the right understanding of many mysteries-expounded by the pen of Dr. Shubhankar Mishra. I hope this book will ignite the minds of its readers with new thoughts and new light. I hope it will help them grow to higher levels of consciousness." - Swami Paramhans Pragyananandaji, Head, Kriya Yoga International -:CONTENTS:- Chapter 1 Before the Origin Chapter 2 The Work of Creation Begins Chapter 3 The Creator's Dilemma Chapter 4 Ardhanariswar Chapter 5 Creation Flourishes Chapter 6 Kailasha Chapter 7 One God, Many Devotees Chapter 8 Epitome of Devotion Chapter 9 The Story of Nandi Chapter 10 Vairagyam Chapter 11 Kalabhairava Chapter 12 Adishakti's Blessing Chapter 13 Adishakti is Born Chapter 14 Ishwaric Trances Chapter 15 Visions of Sati Chapter 16 Conflict of Ideologies Chapter 17 Spring Woes Chapter 18 Sati's Quest Chapter 19 A Conflict Between Heart and Brain Chapter 20 Deep Penance Chapter 21 Nanda Vrat Chapter 22 An Ascetic Melts Chapter 23 Shiva Meets Sati Chapter 24 Preparations for the Celestial Wedding Chapter 25 Brahmadeva as Mediator Chapter 26 Brahmadeva Reaches Kailasha Chapter 27 The Invitation of Marriage Chapter 28 The Groom's Procession Chapter 29 The Marriage Ceremony Chapter 30 Lust & Penance Chapter 31 The Himalayan Retreat Chapter 32 Sati at Kailasha Chapter 33 Winds of Romance in Kailasha Chapter 34 The Himalayan Paradise Chapter 35 Meeting with Shri Rama Chapter 36 A Boon of Devotion Chapter 37 Arrogant Daksha Chapter 38 The Great Dilemma of Sati Chapter 39 Nireswar Yajna Chapter 40 Curse of Dadhichi Chapter 41 Sati's Desire to Visit the Vedic Yajna Chapter 42 Sati at Daksha's Yajna Chapter 43 Sati's Fury Chapter 44 The Gloomiest Day of the Universe Chapter 45 Mother Departs Chapter 46 News Reaches Kailasha Chapter 47 The Celestial Voice Chapter 48 Havoc by Veerabhadra Chapter 49 The Arrogant Head Rolls into the Fire Chapter 50 Tears of Separation Chapter N The End is a New Beginning Chapter N+1 The Neuroscientist Brain and Pramathi Soul Appendix The 51 Shaktipeethas The Quest of a Neurologist 'What is the neuroscience of love?' I asked with great curiosity. It was a beautiful spring day, and many patients had already been admitted. We had just conducted a thorough ward round. Usually, after our daily rounds, my senior neurologist, Dr. Panda, who is not only a colleague but also like an elder brother to me, and I would have lunch and discuss various topics, from politics to theology. He has vast knowledge in both neuroscience and spirituality. He paused for a moment to reflect as well. We neurologists are always keen on localisation, endeavouring to categorise thoughts logically. 'I have delved deeper to understand this. I have even given a talk on the subject,' Dr. Panda replied. As a studious individual with a profound interest in neuroscience, I have explored numerous books and journals to uncover the mysteries of the brain. It is the most complex organ of our body. All our behaviours, thoughts, actions, emotions, and nearly everything related to us rely on our brains. In short, it is the organ that distinguishes human from bio-machines. Our consciousness resides within our brain. Dr. Panda continues, 'Have you ever read about it in Bradley? You should seek out the book by the same name that is available in Kindle. It relates to "attraction" hormones and "attachment" hormones. The limbic lobe, along with the prefrontal cortex, is responsible for this.' he added. With a jovial laugh, he said, 'The happy hormones, such as norepinephrine and serotonin, induce attraction, while oxytocin is responsible for attachment.' 'So, the greatest lover would have been the happiest and most generous person, as the same neurohormones are responsible for kindness and compassion,' I commented. Dr. Panda pondered deeply before responding, 'Indeed, it's a fact. The same neurohormones contribute to those qualities as well. Therefore, we must seek out the greatest lover.' With that, he departed. A new question arose within me-it gnawed at my thoughts. The curious boy inside me was awakened. After leaving the clinic, I returned home and contemplated this same question for the entire evening. 'Why are you so thoughtful today?' my dear wife asked. She can practically read my mind. After seven years of our relationship and seven years of marriage, she has gained the clairvoyance to perceive my thoughts even before I do. 'Nothing, I'll ask you an easy question; just answer me,' I said. I usually don't speak like this. She thought that I was about to pose a significant question regarding our existence, life after death, consciousness, and so on, as I have a keen interest in such topics, along with neuroscience. But my question was, 'Who is the greatest lover?' She paused for a moment and replied, 'As I am an obstetrician, I think the greatest lover is a mother' We searched on Google as if it were a meta-analysis, trying various keywords and phrases. Historical, fictional, and mythological characters flashed on the MacBook screen, yet I was not satisfied. I read numerous viewpoints from diverse individuals and engaged in many comparisons and analyses. I also asked one of my cousin sisters, Dr. Joyshree, who is a renowned oncopathologist. She has extensive knowledge about many topics. However, she was rather clueless. Nevertheless, the small quest expanded with each passing day. Personally, I consulted many knowledgeable individuals, but everyone had different opinions. Days went by without an answer. Before the Origin chapter - 1 These questions always haunt every seeker: What existed before everything? Was there something or nothing, and was everything created from nothing? Does time have a moment of birth? What transpired before that? These questions are like the intertwined coils of a necklace. The universe operates with perfect symmetry. Was there anything before the birth of time? And is the passage of time circular? These inquiries unambiguously challenge our understanding of reality. As everything is cyclical, the path of time must also be circular. That is why time begins, completes a full circle, and ceases. A similar fate also befalls space as time and space function in conjunction. Seekers, philosophers, historians, and storytellers revisit tales of the past, both fictional and historical. Yet some tales go beyond the beginning of time and space. Even the creator had not come into being. However, this was not the first instance of everything being created. It had already occurred numerous times, almost to the scale of infinity. Creation and annihilation are the two constant phenomena of the universe, and no one can halt the cycle. The story started billions of years before the origin of everything, we see. This Brahmanda (egg-shaped universe) was not there, nor was the timeline on which we dwell. There was no past, present, or future. There was neither light nor darkness. Atoms, molecules, and physical forces didn't exist. As the origin of something begins only after the conclusion of another thing, the previous universe was destroyed before that. The cycle of creation happens like this every time. Destruction and creation are two sides of the same coin. However, the absolute truth was a bit different. There was someone or something even before the origin. But how do we address this, someone or something? No one knows. It remained a mystery. But this entity pervaded everywhere. It was the same entity that was never born and will never die. It possessed all the energy of the previous universe and had engulfed the entire consciousness of the previous reality. Yet, it was impossible to fathom with the senses. This entity transcended the senses and mental picturisation. In true words, it was the supramental consciousness. It was the Nirguna Brahman (undefinable supreme consciousness). This entity was incomprehensible to the mind. It cannot be expressed in words. It has neither a name nor a colour. It was neither thick nor thin, neither short nor long, neither light nor heavy. It was immeasurable, property-less, changeless, formless, attributeless, and perceptible only to the Yogins. The entity was all-pervasive, and the sole cause of the universe. According to the Vedas, it encompassed all that was surprising. It was the splendour of the universe, the truth, the knowledge, the eternal, and the great bliss. It was the all-pervading Ishwara. The supreme Brahman is a form that crosses all boundaries, encompasses all forms, perceives all, is the cause of all, deserves respect from all, exists in the origin of all, grants everything, and sanctifies all that is meant to be created. A sculptor feels disheartened when he is not engaged in constructing a project. He is perpetually captivated by his creation. The love for the sculpture surpasses money, fame, and recognition. The supreme sculptor, Nirguna Brahman, too felt lonely. That's why a subtle vibration (spanda) erupted in the all-pervading entity. That was the iccha shakti (willpower) of the infinite dormant Brahman. That subtle vibration stirred the dormant entity. The sculptor longed to create and build multiple entities, cherishing the creative power within him. He desired to become non-dual, separate from the absolute singularity. The vibration marked the first creation of the formless supreme; indeed, his fused essence awakened the dormant sculptor. In a poetic sense, Ishwara and Shakti were entwined aspects of a singular entity, representing its two phases. One remained dormant, while the other was vibrant. Time emerged, along with space, when the vibration commenced. The trio (Kala-time, Shakti-energy, Vishnu-the all-pervading-space) constituted the most primitive building blocks of creation. And in fact, the trio are not different from the formless entity. They are other names of the same entity according to their function. This is the point where there is no difference between duality and non-duality.
